Franck Mereyde: Tbilisi Airport expansion is honour; Georgia leads our growth across 27 nations

“We operate across 27 countries, and our most substantial and rapid expansion is emerging right here in Georgia. We are immensely proud of this partnership,” stated Franck Mereyde, Chairman of the Executive Board & Executive of the Board of Directors at TAV Airports Groupe ADP, during his address at the launch ceremony for the Tbilisi International Airport expansion project.

Franck Mereyde spoke at length about the strategic significance of the project.

“I am incredibly proud to be here today. We place immense faith in Georgia’s growth potential. We share the same strategy and vision for the country’s development. Georgia is expanding at an exceptionally efficient and rapid pace. We have no intention of letting any opportunity pass us by, which is precisely why we are here. This stands as a powerful symbol of our collaboration. I remember March 2021, when we were working on the development of Batumi International Airport; despite the pandemic, and at a time when investing seemed utter madness, we still succeeded in unlocking that potential.

Now, we are poised to begin this major expansion and development phase in Tbilisi. What occurred last month was unprecedented on a global scale. Despite widespread challenges, we observed that while other companies preferred to wait and see how the aviation industry would recover, we pushed ahead with the expansion of Tbilisi International Airport. Looking at the data, the July figures reflect remarkably rapid growth, showing a 40 per cent surge. Highly significant steps are being taken to overcome these challenges and seize these opportunities. That is why we are here, and we are proud of this partnership. When we look across our entire network, spanning 27 countries, Georgia stands out with the greatest and fastest development.

We can already see the clear signs of this momentum. We must act decisively, leverage our robust partnership with Georgia, and capitalise upon it. We are particularly grateful to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy for their vision and drive, ensuring every opportunity is seized efficiently and swiftly. By 2028, this airport will boast far greater potential and capacity. This is an incredibly important project for us, and it is a profound honour to be in Tbilisi alongside our partners and friends,” Franck Mereyde stated.

The quote was compiled from simultaneous interpretation.